Steve Kerr: Kevin Durant ‘has great respect’ for Steve Nash

Steve Nash wouldn’t be the Nets’ new head coach if Brooklyn’s stars didn’t put their stamp of approval on him.

Steve Nash hasn’t been front and center like some of the other individuals who were being considered for the Brooklyn Nets head coaching job — so much so that there hadn’t been any reports of Nash’s interest or interviews until the announcement of his hiring on Thursday.

While he hasn’t held the title of coach at the NBA level, be it assistant or head, the Hall of Fame point guard has been around the game since his retirement.

Over the last five years, Nash has been in Golden State working as a player development consultant. Among the players he worked with was Kevin Durant, who is, of course, now with the Brooklyn Nets.

In his time working with Durant, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr noticed Nash developed a strong bond with the superstar.

“I think Kevin has great respect for Steve because he watched him growing up and then played against him late in Steve’s career,” Kerr told Tim Kawakami of The Athletic. “There’s an inherent respect. Mutual respect.”

Now Nets fans just need to see that chemistry translate to the floor at Barclays center in 2020-21.